Chesco D.A.: Caged, burned dog led to dog fighting ring

District Attorney Tom Hogan stands next to photos of Shane Santiago and Laura Acampora during a press conference announcing arrests in a dogfighting ring at the Chester County Justice Center in West Chester on Wednesday. (Photo by Vinny Tennis/Daily Local News)

WEST CHESTER — Law enforcement officials gathered Wednesday to announce the arrests of a husband and wife accused of running a dog-fighting ring out of their home in the 1300 block of Manor Road in West Brandywine.

Shane Santiago and Laura Acampora, both 33, are accused of operating a dog-fighting business that led to the deaths of at least 10 dogs and the maiming of countless more, according to District Attorney Tom Hogan. Six living dogs were recovered from the home and are currently under the care of the SPCA.

“That residence was a house of pain and horror for the dogs that lived there,” Hogan said. “There was only one rule for the dogs, fight or die.”

Hogan said five young children also lived in the area, one of whom was eventually bitten by one of the tortured dogs. That animal was then hung with a co-ax cable in retaliation, Hogan said.

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Investigators began probing the county for dog fighting activity after two pit bulls were found, one maimed and one burned, along the sides of area roads. Radar, who was found badly maimed and left for dead in a roadside ravine in February, is currently recovering under the care of the Chester County SPCA. Another pit bull was found caged and burned along Route 82 in September.

Hogan announced for the first time Wednesday an investigation revealed that dog was burned alive after it was used in dog fighting.

“We knew that somewhere in Chester County a dog fighting ring was going on,” Hogan said.

Officials said Santiago was first identified as a suspect when he was arrested on drug charges as part of Operation Silent Night, a coordinated operation aimed at curbing violent crime in Coatesville. During the probe of Santiago, investigators learned neighbors had been complaining about activity on the property where he lived. Large numbers of people were coming and going from the property, many were from out of state, and they all appeared to have dogs with them, officials said Wednesday.

“What we found was a nightmare,” Hogan said. “This was a full scale operation of not only dog fighting, but training, breeding, and killing.”

Investigators learned that up to 16 dogs were kept in the home at one time. They discovered a full-scale training operation, including a treadmill and other tools used to encourage the dogs’ aggression.

An “arena” was discovered in the home’s basement. Plywood barriers were set up around the fighting area, and blood spattered the wall.

“The carpet was covered in the blood of the dogs that fought there,” Hogan said.

Santiago and Acampora are charged with over 30 counts of animal cruelty, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty. Both are currently being held in Chester County Prison.